YEREVAN. – The trial on Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic) former Defense Minister and Defense Army Commander Samvel Babayan and several others has resumed Monday, at a capital city Yerevan court of first instance.

These hearings have not been held for a long time, since Babayan was not attending them.

On June 15, 2018—and in consideration of the personal pledges submitted by eleven MPs, the Court of Cassation of Armenia commuted the pretrial measures for Samvel Babayan, Sanasar Gabrielyan and Armen Poghosyan, ruled for their release from pretrial custody, and forwarded this case to the first instance court for a retrial.

Initially, the first instance court had found Babayan guilty under the Criminal Court articles on the acquisition, sale, possession, transportation or carrying of illegal weapons, ammunition, explosives or explosive devices, and money laundering, and had sentenced him to six years in prison.

And the appellate court had upheld this ruling, whereas the cassation court of had overturned it.